Chappy-7 Reviews

The Judge Steps Out (1948)

One To See!

[10/10 · 25 July 2001]

After watching this film, you wonder why the superb Canadian character actor Alexander Knox did not get many better roles after his Best Actor Oscar nomination for the classic "Wilson" in 1945. This role, as a Boston probate judge who "drops out," Knox co-wrote for himself. Ann Sothern is her usual cute, lovable self and the cast of character actors in this one reads like a who's who of Hollywood 1940's character actors. Fine family fair and bring a handkerchief. You won't be disappointed!!

The Opera Lover (1999)

This one's a WOW!!

[10/10 · 24 July 2001]

What a wonderful film! Basically unknown actors who can act and write and direct!! This film was a pleasure to watch and it made me wonder why they haven't put another film together? The dialog is superb. Such lines as the lead, Tom Bastounes, who also co-wrote the script, saying to his long lost love, played by Monica Zaffarano, "You've haunted me for 15 years. Why don't I haunt you." I saw this movie on Showtime. If you get a chance to view it, do so. As it did me, it will make you say, Bastounes, Zaffarino. Who are these people? Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!!

The Searchers (1956)

The Greatest Western Ever Filmed!

[7 December 1999]

Many will say that such classic westerns as John Ford's "Stagecoach" and Howard Hawks "Red River" are the best westerns ever made, but after recently watching both "Stagecoach" and "The Searchers" I came away with a lot of feeling about Ford's 1956 classic. It's a wonderful tale of redemption, revenge and greed. John Wayne plays a character I don't feel we've ever seen him play on screen. He's not playing John Wayne, he's playing a beaten man, downtrodden by fighting on the losing side in the Civil War, downtrodden by the eventual loss of his family through an Indian attack and yes, downtrodden by his role in the world around him. He feels helpless at times. He does redeem himself by films end and makes you want to know more about his character "Ethan." The film contains the usual John Ford stock company, but in this one, many of those characters are richly layered, including the performances of Ward Bond, Jeffrey Hunter, Natalie Wood as the kidnapped niece and even Ken Curtis, Harry Carey Junior and Carey's mother, Olive. Monument Valley stars in many scenes as if it were also a major character. Such a great film. I get more and more out of the film each time I watch it. In my opinion, the best of Ford's later films and as it grows in stature, his best western and when talking John Ford, that's saying a lot.

Hi, Nellie (1934)

Paul Muni proves he can play comedy as well as drama!

[9/10 · 19 October 1999]

Bette Davis is quoted as once saying that the great character actor Paul Muni tried to hide himself under all kinds of makeup, so that no one would ever know who he was or what he looked like. Well, in many of his early films, the real Muni is quite visible. Here, Warner's one time "resident thespian" does a slick turn as the managing editor of a big city newspaper. He gets demoted to writing an advice to the lovelorn column and spends the rest of the film trying to get the goods on a gang of hoods, hoping it will get him his old managing editor's job back. Glenda Farrell plays his female antagonist while sour face Ned Sparks is along for the ride as a city beat reporter. A solid role for Muni, with lots of comedy, which he pulls off well. I suppose the comedy was a welcome change from his usual heavy drama, falling somewhere between "I Was a Fugitive From a Chain Gang", "Scarface" and "Louis Pasteur." Watch and enjoy Muni's talents. His 5 Oscar nominations should speak for themselves, but it seems, over 30 years after his death, he's not as well remembered as several of his contemporaries, which is a shame.